Commercialization of Wikis: Open Community that Pays the Bills Evan Prodromou Founder, Wikitravel 10 March 2007 South by Southwest Interactive

Overview Introduction to commercial wikis Wiki business models Rules for commercial wikis

Introduction to commercial wikis

Wiki business models

Rules for commercial wikis

What is a wiki? An information repository Open for everyone to edit Collaborate on the same work Easiest possible editing Web browser interface (almost always) Free/Open Content (majority)

An information repository

Open for everyone to edit

Collaborate on the same work

Easiest possible editing

Web browser interface (almost always)

Free/Open Content (majority)

Does commerce belong in wikis? Part of a healthy ecology of the wikisphere: personal, commercial, and non-profit Frees up public-sector resources It's OK for a company to do the right thing

Part of a healthy ecology of the wikisphere: personal, commercial, and non-profit

Frees up public-sector resources

It's OK for a company to do the right thing

Other ways to support a wiki project Out of pocket With donations, grants, government funds Move to a wiki farm

Out of pocket

With donations, grants, government funds

Move to a wiki farm

Bottom line Do whatever works for you.

Four kinds of wiki business Service provider (Wikispaces, Wetpaint, PBWiki) Content hosting (wikiHow, Wikitravel, Wikia) Consulting (SocialText) Content development (WikiBiz)

Service provider (Wikispaces, Wetpaint, PBWiki)

Content hosting (wikiHow, Wikitravel, Wikia)

Consulting (SocialText)

Content development (WikiBiz)

Four kinds of wiki business Service provider (Wikispaces, Wetpaint, PBWiki) Content hosting (wikiHow, Wikitravel, Wikia) Consulting (SocialText) Content development (WikiBiz)

Service provider (Wikispaces, Wetpaint, PBWiki)

Content hosting (wikiHow, Wikitravel, Wikia)

Consulting (SocialText)

Content development (WikiBiz)

Four kinds of wiki business Service provider (Wikispaces, Wetpaint, PBWiki) Content hosting (wikiHow, Wikitravel, Wikia) Consulting (SocialText) Content development (WikiBiz)

Service provider (Wikispaces, Wetpaint, PBWiki)

Content hosting (wikiHow, Wikitravel, Wikia)

Consulting (SocialText)

Content development (WikiBiz)

Four kinds of wiki business Service provider (Wikispaces, Wetpaint, PBWiki) Content hosting (wikiHow, Wikitravel, Wikia) Consulting (SocialText) Content development (WikiBiz)

Service provider (Wikispaces, Wetpaint, PBWiki)

Content hosting (wikiHow, Wikitravel, Wikia)

Consulting (SocialText)

Content development (WikiBiz)

Crowdsourcing Sucker Sucker Sucker Sucker Sucker Sucker Sucker You.

Eff that.

A platform for knowledge Havers Needers Knowledge You.

Rules for commercial wikis Have a noble purpose. Demonstrate value. Be transparent. Extract value where you provide value. Set boundaries. Be personally involved. Run with the right crowd.

Have a noble purpose.

Demonstrate value.

Be transparent.

Extract value where you provide value.

Set boundaries.

Be personally involved.

Run with the right crowd.

I. Have a Noble Purpose.

Value for the contributor Blog Photo Video Wiki = Ego = Friends = Purpose

The Noble Purpose.

II. Demonstrate Value.

Ways to add value software development systems administration (big wikis) community management external promotion carry the torch

software development

systems administration (big wikis)

community management

external promotion

carry the torch

III. Be Transparent.

IV. Extract value where you provide value.

V. Set Boundaries.

VI. Be Personally Involved.

VII. Run with the right crowd.

Conclusions Commercial wikis can be healthy additions to the Internet and to Free/Open Content. Community, content and commercialism need to be carefully managed. It's a fun time to be involved with wikis.

Commercial wikis can be healthy additions to the Internet and to Free/Open Content.

Community, content and commercialism need to be carefully managed.

It's a fun time to be involved with wikis.

Thanks Michele Jenkins, Wikitravel Jack Herrick, wikiHow CommunityWiki and MeatBall communities Angela Beesley and Jimmy Wales, Wikia The readers and contributors of Wikitravel

Michele Jenkins, Wikitravel

Jack Herrick, wikiHow

CommunityWiki and MeatBall communities

Angela Beesley and Jimmy Wales, Wikia

The readers and contributors of Wikitravel

Questions...? http://evan.prodromou.name/Talks/SXSW07